‘THIS WAS TOUGH BUT CLIMBING THE STAIRS IS NO LONGER SUCH AN EFFORT’
SALLY ANDERSON-WAI,
52, is a copywriter and lives in Colchester with husband Henry, 46, and their three sons. Her starting weight was 14st 2lb. She is 5ft 8in. Sally, right, says: ‘I have a family history of stroke and heart problems – my mum had a stroke when she was 44, and I had thrombosis of the brain when I was 34. My dad is also on betablockers and has regular heart check-ups. I wanted to do something about my waist size and improve my general fitness. I start the day with porridge and toast, but I also can’t resist crisps or biscuits.’
GOAL
To reduce blood sugar, cholesterol and waist measurement.
THE PLAN
James Davis, personal trainer at Virgin Active in Chelmsford, says: ‘Sally’s father taught her how to box when she was younger, so we will try boxing, a good allround workout to boost cardiovascular fitness and improve core strength. Because she wants to work on her waist, we will also try a seated exercise called a Russian twist. She doesn’t need toast as well as porridge for breakfast. Snacks such as a small pot of unsweetened Greek yogurt or a handful of almonds will keep her fuller for longer.’
SIX WEEKS LATER
Sally says: ‘It was tough but it’s paid off – I’m able to keep up with friends while out walking, and climbing the stairs is no longer an effort. My face is slimmer, my stomach is shrinking and I’ve dropped to a size 18.’
James says: ‘Sally has lost weight and 1½in from her waist so she has made a good start. She’d benefit from exercising with a friend, personal training sessions or exercise classes throughout the week to keep her motivated. Sally also needs to stay focused on her diet.’
Dr Ashton says: ‘Sally’s test results show us she’s at high risk of heart disease, and although her fitness regime has started to make inroads, it’s imperative she keeps it up. Given the increase in exercise, you’d expect to see a bigger difference – I suspect that she’s consuming too many of the wrong type of calories. She needs to address this.’